The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health is dedicated to the holistic care of children, from the moment of birth through adolescence, recognising that each stage of growth brings its own unique health needs and developmental milestones. It serves as a vital hub for education, clinical service, research and public health advocacy, preparing future healthcare professionals to deliver world-class paediatric care in Ghana and beyond.
At the core of the Department’s mission is a commitment to promoting preventive healthcare, enabling early detection of diseases and ensuring timely, evidence-based interventions. The curriculum is designed to equip students with a thorough understanding of child development, nutrition, immunisation and the management of both acute and chronic illnesses. Training encompasses a broad spectrum of paediatric medicine, from common infectious diseases to rare congenital conditions, fostering clinical competence and diagnostic precision.
Clinical training is central to the Department’s work, offering students hands-on experience in neonatal intensive care units, paediatric wards, outpatient clinics and community health settings. This real-world exposure ensures graduates are confident in handling emergencies, managing complex medical cases and providing compassionate care tailored to the unique needs of young patients and their families.
Beyond its teaching responsibilities, the Department plays a pivotal role in advancing paediatric medicine through research. Faculty and students engage in cutting-edge studies on topics such as vaccine-preventable diseases, childhood malnutrition, developmental disorders and paediatric oncology. The findings from this research are actively translated into policy recommendations, clinical guidelines and community health programmes, directly impacting child health outcomes on a national scale.
Public health advocacy is woven into the Department’s identity. It works in close partnership with governmental health agencies, non-governmental organisations and international bodies to address pressing child health challenges. These efforts include leading immunisation drives, promoting exclusive breastfeeding, implementing child nutrition programmes and raising awareness about the importance of early healthcare interventions.
By integrating medical education, patient care and community outreach, the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health strives to reduce child mortality, improve survival rates for critically ill children and enhance the overall quality of life for the paediatric population. Its graduates emerge not only as skilled clinicians but also as advocates for children’s health, equipped to influence health policy, lead research initiatives and deliver compassionate, family-centred care in any setting.
Mission
To provide excellence in education, research and clinical training in paediatrics and child health, equipping students with the knowledge and skills to improve child healthcare outcomes globally.
Vision
To be a leading institution in paediatric education, pioneering innovative research and high-quality patient-centred care for children from infancy to adolescence.
Functions
The Department of Paediatrics and Child Health is committed to producing highly skilled healthcare professionals capable of delivering comprehensive medical care to infants, children, and adolescents. Its functions encompass education, clinical service, research, advocacy and community engagement, all aimed at safeguarding and improving the health and well-being of the paediatric population.
One of the Department’s core functions is to provide rigorous training in every aspect of neonatal, infant and child healthcare. Students are guided through the principles of normal growth and development, childhood nutrition and the vital role of immunisation in preventing disease. They also acquire expertise in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of both acute and chronic paediatric illnesses. Special emphasis is placed on understanding the unique physiological and psychological needs of children at different stages of development, enabling graduates to tailor care to each patient’s age, condition and circumstances.
Clinical training is at the heart of the Department’s activities. Students receive extensive hands-on exposure in neonatal units, paediatric wards, outpatient clinics and community health settings. They develop critical skills in neonatal resuscitation, paediatric emergency care and advanced life support for children. Training covers the management of common childhood illnesses such as respiratory infections, diarrhoeal diseases, malaria and nutritional deficiencies, as well as complex conditions like congenital heart disease, epilepsy, cancer and genetic disorders.
The Department is also a hub for research and innovation in child health. Faculty and students engage in studies on paediatric infectious diseases, childhood immunisation strategies, developmental disorders, nutritional interventions and emerging healthcare trends affecting children in Ghana and globally. Research outcomes are used to influence clinical practice, shape health policy and design preventive programmes that reduce the incidence and severity of paediatric illnesses.
Specialist paediatric subspecialties, such as cardiology, neurology, oncology, endocrinology, nephrology and genetics, are actively developed within the Department to provide advanced training and improve the scope of paediatric healthcare delivery. By fostering innovations in these areas, the Department contributes to early detection, precise diagnosis and effective treatment of complex childhood diseases.
Public health advocacy forms an important function of the Department. It actively participates in initiatives to reduce infant and child mortality rates by supporting government vaccination campaigns, promoting breastfeeding, encouraging early health-seeking behaviour and providing health education to families and communities. Outreach programmes and mobile clinics extend these services to underserved populations, ensuring equitable access to essential child health services.
In fulfilling these functions, the Department works collaboratively with other medical specialties, public health agencies and international partners. This multidisciplinary approach ensures that children receive holistic, family-centred care while also preparing graduates to function effectively in diverse healthcare settings.
Through its integrated approach to education, research, clinical care and advocacy, the Department of Paediatrics and Child Health not only equips students with the skills to treat disease but also empowers them to be lifelong champions for the health, rights, and well-being of children everywhere.